**Trump and Zelenskyy Discuss Ending Russia-Ukraine War in Rare Meeting**

In a rare meeting after five years, former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Trump declared his intent to broker a peace deal that would be beneficial for both countries if he is re-elected, emphasizing the need for an end to the conflict. "We're going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled and get it worked out," Trump stated, positioning himself alongside Zelenskyy before a small gathering of reporters. "It has to end. At some point, it has to end. He's gone through hell. His country has gone through hell."

Trump emphasized his strong relationships with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving Zelenskyy hopeful that this rapport would continue. "We have a very good relationship," Trump noted, before Zelenskyy expressed his desire for this relationship to persist. In a somewhat lighter moment, Trump quipped, "It takes two to tango, and we will."

The meeting also saw Trump revisiting grievances from his 2019 impeachment over his phone call with Zelenskyy. During that call, Trump had urged Zelenskyy to investigate his then-political rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. The situation escalated when U.S. officials like Bill Taylor, the top diplomat in Ukraine at the time, reported that Trump had withheld military aid to Ukraine pending the investigation. Trump dismissed the impeachment as a partisan "hoax" orchestrated by the Democrats, asserting that he was vindicated in the subsequent Senate trial. He also claimed Zelenskyy vindicated him by stating Trump did nothing wrong during their conversation, describing Zelenskyy as "like a piece of steel."

Zelenskyy briefly addressed their common goals, affirming their aligned views that Ukraine must prevail against Russian aggression. He noted the U.S. elections' significance, remarking, "We understand that after November... we hope that the strength of the United States will be very strong." This acknowledgement underscores the pivotal role the American political landscape plays in the broader geopolitical struggle in Eastern Europe.

This face-to-face interaction was their first since their September 2019 meeting at the United Nations General Assembly and their first discussion following Trump's impeachment. The pair last communicated via phone in July when Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on securing the GOP nomination and condemned an assassination attempt against Trump earlier that same month.

The meeting occurs amidst ongoing concerns about Ukraine's defense capabilities and uncertainties regarding future U.S. aid. With the American elections looming, the outcome could significantly influence the war's trajectory and the broader international response to Russian aggression.